Constantly being busy may be the new normal, but being stressed shouldn’t be. A study released today revealed that more than two thirds (67%) of Canadians agree that their work causes them stress. A staggering six in ten (59%) say their health is negatively impacted by stress experienced at work, and two thirds (63%) feel the stress they experience at work negatively impacts other areas of their life. Whether you work in an office, from home, or on the road, workplace stress in Canada is a real problem with serious consequences. The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) and Leger conducted the study.
“We spend about 50 per cent of our waking hours during the workweek at our jobs. Managing deadlines and duties both at work and home can be a fine balancing act, and CHFA wants to help Canadians make workplace wellness a priority,” says CHFA president, Helen Long.
Highlights from the survey include:
Ontarians reported the highest levels of workplace stress in the country with 72 per cent in agreement that work causes them stress. British Columbia residents reported the lowest levels of workplace stress, with 56 per cent of those surveyed in agreement.
Respondents from Manitoba and Saskatchewan were 10 per cent more likely than the rest of Canadians to agree that their health is sometimes negatively impacted by the stress they experience at work. Residents of Atlantic Canada were the least likely to agree with this, coming in at 49 per cent.
Sixty-nine per cent of younger employed Canadians are more likely to say work stress negatively impacts other areas of their life. This trend is felt most among 18-35 year olds.
Employed Canadians under the age of 55 experience significantly more negative health effects from work stress compared to older Canadians over 65 years of age (61 per cent versus 34 per cent).
“As we can see from the survey, workplace stress is a reality for many Canadians,” said CHFA’s in-house holistic nutritionist, Michelle W. Book. “That’s why CHFA is committed to arming Canadians with easily adaptable strategies to increase wellness both in the workplace and at home.”
To help Canadians manage stress at work throughout the day, CHFA has created a Natural Guide to Workplace Wellness. The guide is based on five pillars:
Punch up productivity with supplements
Do more than Namaste the stress away
Go beyond “deskercise”
Practice mindfulness at work
Eat for energy
CHFA is proud to be spreading the word about how Canadians can improve their workplace wellness, naturally. This is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on natural health products and their many benefits. It’s also a great time for those interested in healthier living to visit their local CHFA Member health food store to learn more.
About CHFA
The Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) is Canada's largest national trade association dedicated to the natural health and organic products industry. The association represents manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, distributors and importers of natural health and organic products, including foods, vitamin and mineral supplements, herbal products, sports nutrition products, and health and beauty aids. With a membership of more than 1,000 businesses across the country, CHFA represents an industry that contributes more than $6 billion to the Canadian economy. Michelle W. Book is CHFA’s in-house holistic nutritionist, trained in natural and complementary therapies.
About the survey: An online survey with 837 employed Canadians from March 7 to March 10, 2016 using Leger’s online panel Legerweb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/- 3.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.